HI,

new to building Dioramas, and it has been years since i built models, but am back into it now. I wanted to do a desert theme in 1/35 scale

I have a 88MM German flak 36 gun (tank killer config), and a 5 Ton half track, along with a motorcycle and various men.

As these guns were used with great success in the African campaign, I thought that would be a good back drop.

I wanted to set up a scene with the Gun being unloaded and being set up, and the building of a communications setup. The comm setup I want to do would be a dug out covered by a camo net.

No I have no idea if dugouts were all that common in Africa, and if so could someone suggest what they may have looked like?

also any one able to suggest a resources on how to model a desert environment for my base?

I have searched the internet but not knowing what I need, I havenot found much to help me.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Dug out - yes they were used. Simple trenches right on up to a trench with a wooden wall retaining the dirt. With sandbag topsalong the edge.
I'll try to dig up a photo and post it.

As far as how to mimic deserts - well the basics are
You need 1. base, 2. spackle, 3. fine sand, 4. pebbles/clean kitty litter. 5. paint
1.Start by building up the high area with a base of styrofoam to allow for the trench.
2. Build up any rock formations with foam or rock.
3. Cover the foam with household spackel and let dry. This should be a thin coat. You can build up some sand dune or blow sandy areas. Be careful because some spackels crack.
4. As this is drying press the sand into the spackle to hold it in place.
5. Press in the pebbles.
6. If you let the spackle fully dry no big deal Just use a layer of white glue and water mixed 50/50 and pour the sand and pebbles over the glue mix..
7. paint various shades of tans, browns, blacks, and even reds.

Doug

For your desert sand, Rustall's #4 bottle contains a very very fine dust that is excellent for 1/35th dio's. These can be ordered from Squadron.

Also, go to a local pet shop and see if they have Chinchilla dust. Chincalla's take "dust baths", and the dust is quite fine and good for modeling, (but it's a tad expensive).

Good luck.

Steve

Thanks Scott

a photo would be a great help.

I think I saw a Trench kit at the store the other day - or perhaps online. Can't recall the name of it, but it sounds like the same thing.

I would expect the camo for the covering over the trench would be in desert coma, I may have to repaint a green one, not sure but can figure that out later.

Anyone have an idea what type of power generation would be used for a comm setup like this (portable generator?? - or was it all battery/crank?) can someone suggest a model that would be appropriate?

Steve,
I will check out my local pet store for the powder, - I know I saw it there last time I was gettign fish supplies. I also hear the painted kitty litter works well for ground cover, is this true?

Have to say I am very glad I found this site, very helpful resources and people here.

Ola Callmedoug

The 88 always is an interesting centerpiece for a dio. Your dio idea is quite good I have done a similar sort of Dio years ago where an 88 is part of the Defenses of the Normandy beaches some 3 Km into the Normandic lands. I have done some research for that dio on the 88 and how it was set up as AT gun. It was quite common that the 88 was Dug in both as AT or as FLAK. This was due to the high profile of the gun which sticks out at quite a hight above the ground. and makes a beautiful silhouette against the sky. This was the basic reason for the fug in guns. They weren`t that good visible anymore and they weren`t that big target at the same time.
I have made a diagram to show how a gunpit more or less looks like. I put in two types of wall reinforcement to keep the dirt from falling in the pit. The planking type is a general used version if available the Basket type was very popular in Western Europe. They used the same for trenches.
Not really visible in the drawing I just noticed. There should be enough room for the carts to reach the needed places. And a telephone in the pit for incoming calls from Artillery observers. Also I added 3 variations of Dug in Munitioncrates often used in the gunpits.


Looking forward to the diorama. You can even add some small portions of trenches leading out of the dio to simulate a trenchsystem leading to other Dug in Artillery

I hope the drawing makes sense. If you have questions please ask. Good luck with your dio

Doug



A well known story is that Rommel in Afrika made a trap with lining a great bunch of dug in88 guns in a "V" shape and all were covered with sand colored canvas tarps to make them look like sandhills. This prove to be a very succesfull method against the allied tanks.

As for the sand I can suggest buying birdcagesand in the petshops. very cheap and you have a really nice fine grain sand. Perfectly suitable for dio building.

Thanks Robert,

exactly what I was looking for.

I now have a decent idea of what I need going forward... Now if I can convince my wife to let me buya airbrush - painting these things by hand is not as easy as I remember....

Once I get this one done, I will be sure to post some pics of it.

I think this picture can help. It is Fujimi 1/76 Flak 18's box art.

I think Roberts representation is way too good !!! and he took all the time to make it !!!! Thanks a lot Robert